Method and user terminal for providing status-based responses to digital messages

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for constructing a digital telephone message including a message defining unit, configured for allowing a sender to define a message for sending to a recipient, and a response defining unit, configured for allowing the sender to predefine a recipient response, and to include the predefined recipient response in the message for activation at the recipient. Apparatus for receiving a digital telephone message, the message including an activatable sender-defined response, the apparatus including a receiving unit for receiving the message, a notification unit for notifying a recipient of the arrival of the message, and a response activation unit for displaying the sender-defined response, and associating the sender-defined response with a user action for providing user input to send the response. Related apparatus and methods are also described.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention, in some embodiments thereof, relates to a methodfor rapid acknowledgement of awareness to messages, and, moreparticularly, but not exclusively, to a method for one-clickacknowledgement of digital messages, receipt and/or content thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Microsoft provides the following service within the Outlook application.A person receiving a meeting invitation can press ACCEPT or DECLINE,thereby providing a response to the sender. In order to press ACCEPT orDECLINE, the person must either open the invitation, or use an Outlookfunction named preview, which displays at least some of the invitation,in a preview window.

Amazon.com provides a one-click purchasing service, described in U.S.Pat. No. 5,960,411 to Hartman et al. An order is placed by a purchaserat a client system and received by a server system. The server systemreceives purchaser information including identification of thepurchaser, payment information, and shipment information from the clientsystem. The server system then assigns a client identifier to the clientsystem and associates the assigned client identifier with the receivedpurchaser information. The server system sends to the client system theassigned client identifier and an HTML document identifying the item andincluding an order button. The client system receives and stores theassigned client identifier and receives and displays the HTML document.In response to the selection of the order button, the client systemsends to the server system a request to purchase the identified item.The server system receives the request and combines the purchaserinformation associated with the client identifier of the client systemto generate an order to purchase the item in accordance with the billingand shipment information whereby the purchaser effects the ordering ofthe product by selection of the order button.

Seppanen et al describe a mobile terminal having one key user messageacknowledgment function in U.S. Pat. No. 5,692,032, assigned to NokiaMobile Phones Ltd. Seppanen describes a cellular radiotelephone whichincludes a keypad having a plurality of keys and a display device fordisplaying information, including messages, to a user. A method includesthe steps of: (a) transmitting a short message service (SMS) messagefrom a network to the cellular radiotelephone; (b) receiving the SMSmessage from the network and storing the message in a memory of thecellular radiotelephone; (c) presenting the stored SMS message to auser; (d) determining if the presented SMS message requires a manualacknowledgment by the user and, if so, monitoring an output of thekeypad to detect a single key depression by the user. The method furtherincludes a step of (e) determining if the user's single key depressionis a correct manual acknowledgement and, if so, automatically generatingand transmitting to the network a SMS manual acknowledgement messagethat includes an identification of the single key depressed by the user.

Additional background art includes:

U.S. Pat. No. 5,153,582 to Davis.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,188,909 to Alanara et al.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,262,735 to Etelapera.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,370,389 to Isomursu et al.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,221,953 to Roche.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the invention enable rapid awareness, identification andresponse to digital messages.

An initiator of a digital message is often, after sending the message,is in the dark about the awareness of a receiver to the message. Thetransmitter used by the initiator is typically in the same state afterreceiving a response as it was after sending the message.

A person receiving, by way of a non-limiting example, an SMS message,may wish to respond to the message when he gets it, with the leastamount of effort. In some embodiments of the invention, the person thatreceived the message responds with a reception/non-reception flag withinan agreed iconic flagging system, such as an icon of an empty envelopethat gets marked with suitable reception icons.

Sometimes, when a person receives an SMS (Short Message Service)message, the person is occupied, and desirous of finishing whatever taskis involved with answering the message with as little fuss as possible.Sometimes the person is expecting a message, and an acknowledgement ofreceiving the message is what is needed. In some embodiments of thepresent invention, the person is enabled top perform the aboveacknowledgement.

When a person receives a digital message, embodiments of the inventionenable responding to the digital message optionally without reading themessage. The person identifies a sender of the message, and basedthereon sends a response, be it as simple as an iconic acknowledgementof receipt. The person optionally identifies the message by a title ofthe message, and bases the response on the title.

The initiator of a digital message, after sending the message, and usingembodiments of the invention, is made aware of a response to themessage, and can track responses by more than one recipient of amessage, as well as track more than one message.

Embodiments of the invention enable bringing about an efficient andspeedy state of awareness, both at the receiving end and at the sendingend, thereby saving time and/or energy and/or money. Some embodiments ofthe invention enable message response even without opening the message,because the type of message is immediately indicated, and the responseis available before opening.

Some embodiments of the invention enable a receiving apparatus to alerta user that a message has arrived with a response request.

Some embodiments of the invention enable a user of the receivingapparatus to respond with a one-click message response.

Some embodiments of the invention enable the user to select between aplurality of responses as the message response.

Some embodiments of the invention enable the user to respond withoutinterrupting a telephone conversation on the receiving apparatus.

Other embodiments of the invention enable producing a message which canbe responded to without opening the message.

Still other embodiments of the invention enable embedding responseoptions within the message.

Other embodiments of the invention enable tracking a response to themessage.

Some embodiments of the invention enable tracking more than one responseto the message.

Some embodiments of the invention implement the features using add-onsoftware in apparatus sending and/or in apparatus receiving themessages.

Some embodiments of the invention enhance native software in the sendingand/or the receiving apparatus in order to implement the features.

Some embodiments of the invention include predefined responses in areceiver's software, and send messages which contain indications whichpredefined response, or responses, are to be available in the message.Other embodiments of the invention send the entire predefined responseswith the message.

Some embodiments of the present invention enhance infrastructuresoftware used by messaging service providers in order to enable transferof messages with embedded pre-defined responses.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the invention there isprovided an apparatus for constructing a digital telephone messageincluding a message defining unit, configured for enabling a sender todefine a message for sending to a recipient, and a response definingunit, configured for allowing the sender to predefine a recipientresponse, and to include the predefined recipient response in themessage for activation at the recipient.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the message includes anSMS (Short Message Service) message. According to some embodiments ofthe invention, the message includes a text message. According to someembodiments of the invention, the message includes a multimediamessaging service (MMS) message.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the response definingunit is configured for allowing a sender to predefine more than onerecipient response. According to some embodiments of the invention, theresponse defining unit is configured for allowing a sender to select thepredefined recipient response from a menu of predefined recipientresponses.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the predefined recipientresponse includes text. According to some embodiments of the invention,the predefined recipient response includes text using a predeterminedconvention. According to some embodiments of the invention, thepredefined recipient response includes text conforming to a mark-uplanguage.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the activation at arecipient includes sending the predefined recipient response to aresponse recipient. According to some embodiments of the invention, theactivation at the recipient occurs after a pre-defined period of time,if the recipient did not perform the activation after the pre-definedperiod of time. According to some embodiments of the invention, theactivation at a recipient includes making an immediate call to thesender. According to some embodiments of the invention, the immediatecall is to a voice mail number.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the activation isperformed by a single action.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the response recipientincludes the sender of the message. According to some embodiments of theinvention, the response recipient includes a third party other than thesender of the message. According to some embodiments of the invention,the response recipient includes more than one response recipient.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the response definingunit further provides for allowing the sender to include code configuredto run upon the recipient's apparatus to support caller definedresponses. According to some embodiments of the invention, the code isconfigured to activate sending the predefined recipient response.

According to some embodiments of the invention, and further including anauthentication defining unit for allowing the sender to define arequired authentication, thereby to limit display of the message torecipients who input the defined authentication. According to someembodiments of the invention, the form of authentication includes atleast one of the group consisting of a Personal Identification Number(PIN) and biometric identification.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present inventionthere is provided a method for constructing a digital telephone messageincluding constructing the message, predefining a recipient response,and including the predefined recipient response with the constructedmessage for automatic activation at a recipient.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present inventionthere is provided a server configured to transmit a digital telephonemessage including a sender-defined response component for activation bya recipient.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present inventionthere is provided a method for producing a digital message containing acomponent which enables responding to the message upon receipt, withouta need for any one of selecting, opening, and reading the message.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present inventionthere is provided a communication system for transmitting a digitalmessage containing a component which enables responding to the messageupon receipt, without a need for any one of selecting, opening, andreading the message.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present inventionthere is provided apparatus for receiving a digital telephone message,the message including an activatable sender-defined response, theapparatus including a receiving unit for receiving the message, anotification unit for notifying a recipient of the arrival of themessage, and a response activation unit for displaying thesender-defined response, and associating the sender-defined responsewith a user action for providing user input to send the response.

According to some embodiments of the invention, at least the responseactivation unit is part of an enhanced native SMS client software.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the enhanced native SMSclient software is adapted to parse a plain text message, and performsthe displaying and the associating based, at least in part, on theparsing.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the response activationunit is configured to enable a recipient to respond to the receivedmessage in one of the manners from the group consisting of notresponding, responding by sending text, responding by activating thesender-defined response, and responding by sending a secondsender-defined response, the second sender-defined response beingproduced at the recipient's apparatus for receiving a digital telephonemessage.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the message includes atleast one of the group consisting of a text message, a multimediamessage, an SMS (Short Message Service) message, and a multimediamessaging service (MMS) message.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the response activationunit is configured to enable a recipient to respond to the receivedmessage without interrupting a telephone conversation on the receivingapparatus.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the notification unit isconfigured to notify the recipient of the arrival of the messagedifferently than to notify the recipient of the arrival of a messagewhich does not include an activatable sender-defined response.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the user action includesselecting the sender-defined response from a plurality of sender-definedresponses. According to some embodiments of the invention, the selectingincludes selecting from a menu.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the user action includesa single key depression. According to some embodiments of the invention,the user action includes a single mouse click. According to someembodiments of the invention, the user action includes a single voicecommand.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the user action includesactivating code received with the message. According to some embodimentsof the invention, the user action includes activating a script receivedwith the message. According to some embodiments of the invention, theuser action includes activating a widget received with the message.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the user actionactivates the apparatus to send the response. According to someembodiments of the invention, the sending the response includes sendingthe response to the sender.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the user action isoperable to activate the apparatus to send the response before openingthe message.

According to some embodiments of the invention, and further including amessage display unit for displaying the message, the display unitdisplaying the message only after the recipient inputs a form ofauthentication. According to some embodiments of the invention, the formof authentication includes at least one of the group consisting of aPersonal Identification Number (PIN) and biometric identification.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the sending the responseincludes sending the response to a third party other than the sender ofthe message, the third party destination having been received with themessage.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present inventionthere is provided a method for receiving a digital telephone message,the message including an activatable sender-defined response, the methodincluding receiving the message, notifying a recipient of the arrival ofthe message, and displaying the sender-defined response, and associatingthe sender-defined response with a user action for providing user inputto send the response.

According to some embodiments of the invention the message includes aplurality of activatable sender-defined responses and the displayingincludes displaying a partial set of the sender-defined responses at atime. According to some embodiments of the invention the user actioncauses a display of an additional partial set of sender-definedresponses. According to some embodiments of the invention the additionalpartial set of sender-defined responses is selected to be displayedbased, at least in part, on the user action.

According to some embodiments of the invention the method furtherincludes sending responses based, at least in part, on the user actions.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present inventionthere is provided a method for tracking responses to a digital telephonemessage, the message including an activatable sender-defined response,including receiving a response to a sent message, and displaying arecipient identifier associated with the sent message together with aresponse identifier associated with the sent message, the responseidentifier including an indication of whether a response to the messagewas received.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the response identifierincludes text. According to some embodiments of the invention, theresponse identifier includes an icon.

According to some embodiments of the invention, and further includingproducing an alert indicating that a response has been received.

According to some embodiments of the invention, and further includingproducing an alert indicating a message to which a response has not beenreceived within a specified time.

According to some embodiments of the invention, and further includingautomatically resending a message to which a response has not beenreceived within a specified time.

According to some embodiments of the invention, and further includingdisplaying how much time has passed since sending a message, if aresponse has not been received for the message.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the sent message wassent to a plurality of recipients, and the displaying includesdisplaying the message identifier associated with the sent message,displaying a plurality of recipient identifiers, each associated withone of the plurality of recipients, and displaying a plurality ofresponse identifiers, each associated with one of the plurality ofrecipients, indicating whether the recipient responded to the message,and if yes, an indication of the response.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the sent message wassent to a plurality of recipients, and the displaying includesdisplaying a plurality of response identifiers, each of the responseidentifiers associated with one type of response to the sent message,and displaying how many responses of the one type of response werereceived.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the receiving includesreceiving more than one response to more than one sent message.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the displaying includesdisplaying how many responses were received for each one of the morethan one sent message. According to some embodiments of the invention,the displaying includes displaying a response identifier for eachmessage/recipient combination, and the response identifier includes afirst field associated with the recipient and a second field associatedwith the message and the type of response. According to some embodimentsof the invention, the displaying includes displaying how many responsesof each type of response were received for each one of the more than onesent message.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present inventionthere is provided a system for tracking responses to sent messagesincluding a receiving unit for receiving a response to a sent message,and a display for displaying a message identifier associated with thesent message together with a response identifier associated with theresponse, the response identifier including an indication of whether aresponse to the message was received.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present inventionthere is provided a system for sending a message over a cellular linkand tracking responses to the message, the system including a messagedefining unit for defining the message, a response defining unit forpredefining one or more recipient responses, and for including the oneor more predefined recipient responses in the message for activation ata recipient, a tracking unit for tracking responses to the message, andfor displaying responses to the message.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the message includes anSMS (Short Message Service) message.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the message is sent to aplurality of recipients.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the displaying displayseach response to the message. According to some embodiments of theinvention, the displaying displays a summary of the responses.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the tracking unit isconfigured to track a plurality of different messages.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present inventionthere is provided a communication system for transmitting an SMS messageto which a flag has been added, the flag indicating that one or morepre-defined responses are included in an SMS message.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present inventionthere is provided a communication system for transmitting an SMS messageto which a field has been added, the field including one or morepre-defined responses.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present inventionthere is provided apparatus for receiving a first digital telephonemessage and for constructing a second digital telephone message,including a receiving unit for receiving the first digital telephonemessage, a message defining unit, configured for allowing a user todefine a message for sending to a recipient, and a response definingunit, configured for allowing the user to predefine a response, and toinclude the predefined response in the message for activation at therecipient, thereby constructing a second digital telephone message.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and/or scientific terms usedherein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinaryskill in the art to which the invention pertains. Although methods andmaterials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used inthe practice or testing of embodiments of the invention, exemplarymethods and/or materials are described below. In case of conflict, thepatent specification, including definitions, will control. In addition,the materials, methods, and examples are illustrative only and are notintended to be necessarily limiting.

Implementation of the method and/or system of embodiments of theinvention can involve performing or completing selected tasks manually,automatically, or a combination thereof. Moreover, according to actualinstrumentation and equipment of embodiments of the method and/or systemof the invention, several selected tasks could be implemented byhardware, by software or by firmware or by a combination thereof usingan operating system.

For example, hardware for performing selected tasks according toembodiments of the invention could be implemented as a chip or acircuit. As software, selected tasks according to embodiments of theinvention could be implemented as a plurality of software instructionsbeing executed by a computer using any suitable operating system. In anexemplary embodiment of the invention, one or more tasks according toexemplary embodiments of method and/or system as described herein areperformed by a data processor, such as a computing platform forexecuting a plurality of instructions. Optionally, the data processorincludes a volatile memory for storing instructions and/or data and/or anon-volatile storage, for example, a magnetic hard-disk and/or removablemedia, for storing instructions and/or data. Optionally, a networkconnection is provided as well. A display and/or a user input devicesuch as a keyboard or mouse are optionally provided as well.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Some embodiments of the invention are herein described, by way ofexample only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. With specificreference now to the drawings in detail, it is stressed that theparticulars shown are by way of example and for purposes of illustrativediscussion of embodiments of the invention. In this regard, thedescription taken with the drawings makes apparent to those skilled inthe art how some embodiments of the invention may be practiced.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1A is a simplified pictorial illustration of a cellular telephonescreen showing a notification that a message has been received accordingto an exemplary prior art method;

FIG. 1B is a simplified pictorial illustration of a cellular telephonescreen showing a list of sent messages according to an exemplary priorart method;

FIG. 2A is a simplified pictorial illustration of a cellular telephonescreen showing a notification that a message has been received accordingto a system constructed and operative in accordance with an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2B is a simplified pictorial illustration of a cellular telephonescreen showing a notification that a message has been received accordingto a system constructed and operative in accordance with an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of a method for a receiver to respond to amessage according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4A is a simplified pictorial illustration of a cellular telephonescreen showing a list of sent messages according to a system constructedand operative in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 4B is a simplified pictorial illustration of a cellular telephonescreen showing a list of sent messages according to a system constructedand operative in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 5A is a simplified pictorial illustration of a cellular telephonescreen showing a list of responses to a sent message according to asystem constructed and operative in accordance with an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5B is a simplified pictorial illustration of a cellular telephonescreen showing a list of responses to a sent message according to asystem constructed and operative in accordance with an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5C is a simplified pictorial illustration of a cellular telephonescreen showing a summary of responses to a sent message according to asystem constructed and operative in accordance with an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5D is a simplified pictorial illustration of a system for trackingresponses to sent messages constructed and operative in accordance withan exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram of a method for a sender to track responses tosent messages according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram of a method for producing a message enabled forrapid response according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a simplified pictorial illustration of a sender's cellulartelephone screen depicting a message composed with a choice ofsender-defined responses comprising delimited text, according to asystem constructed and operative in accordance with an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a simplified pictorial illustration of a recipient's cellulartelephone screen depicting the message of FIG. 8 according to a systemconstructed and operative in accordance with an exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 10 is a simplified pictorial illustration of a system for two-waymessaging between an originating user and a receiving user via twodifferent messaging operators constructed and operative in accordancewith an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIGS. 11A, 11B, and 11C are simplified pictorial illustrations of arecipient's cellular telephone screen depicting a gradual development ofa message according to a system constructed and operative in accordancewith an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The present invention, in some embodiments thereof, relates to a methodfor rapid acknowledgement of awareness to messages, and, moreparticularly, but not exclusively, to a method for acknowledgement ofdigital messages, receipt and/or content thereof.

The description provided in the Summary, of finishing whatever task isinvolved with answering an SMS message with as little fuss as possible,possibly without even opening the message, is an example of a use for anexemplary embodiment of the invention.

It is to be appreciated that within the present specification andclaims, language will be used referring to digital messaging,particularly phone messaging, text messaging, and phone text messagingover cellular connections, for example using the short messaging serviceSMS protocol. Digital messaging contemplated includes: SMS messages tocellular telephones; MMS (Multimedia Message Service) messages tocellular telephones; Voice Mail messages to cellular telephones; emailmessages; mail messages to digital television receivers over satellite,cable, or IP network; Instant Messaging (IM) messages; Voice Mailmessages to line phones; personal paging device (beeper) messages; DECT(Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications) phone messages; and soon.

The invention, in embodiments thereof, is intended to apply to forms oftransmission of digital messages, including, by way of non-limitingexamples: cellular telephony; line telephony; satellite; cable; IPnetwork; Bluetooth, WiMax; Infrared; wireless networks, and so on.

Continuing with the SMS example, a person receives an SMS message, andwithout reading the body of the message, identifies the sender, andperforms an action of sending an acknowledgement of receiving themessage. The acknowledgement, by a human pressing a cellular telephonekey, conveys more information to a sender than an indication that themessage was technically received by the handset of the recipient. Thehuman acknowledgement conveys that the person knows that a message hasbeen received, as opposed to the person having simply left the handsetON and forgotten somewhere or indeed the handset currently beingswitched off.

A feature of some embodiments of the invention involves includingresponse options in a message such that the response options are visibleto the recipient without the recipient opening the message. Therecipient receives an understanding of the response options togetherwith an initial notification of having received a message. Forms ofpresenting the response options will be described further below, withreference to FIGS. 2A and 2B.

By virtue of a flag, icon, or similar visual indicator, attached to themessage, the recipient knows more than just what his response optionsare. The recipient learns of the request for a response to the messageand learns of what type of message has been received. By way of anon-limiting example, icon types displayed on the cell phone screenindicate: life/death situations; monetary issues; advertising; and soon. The fact that there are pre-defined options for response and theawareness of the recipient to the content enable the rapid response.

A feature of some embodiments of the invention involves selecting aresponse from a menu of responses, and in one click sending theresponse.

For purposes of better understanding some embodiments of the presentinvention, as illustrated in FIGS. 2A, 2B, 4A, 4B and 5A-5D of thedrawings, reference is first made to the construction and operation of aconventional (i.e., prior art) methods for receiving messages andtracking sent messages, as illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B. FIGS. 1A and1B also use the example of SMS messaging on cellular telephones, as anon-limiting example.

Reference is now made to FIG. 1A, which is a simplified pictorialillustration of a cellular telephone screen 105 showing a notification110 that a message has been received according to an exemplary prior artmethod. Typically the notification 110 conveys the fact that a messagehas been received, and from which sender. The sender is identified by aphone number, or, if the phone number is included in the recipient'saddress book, by a name. Typically, the options before the recipient areto READ 120 the message, and to EXIT 115 the notification screen.

The recipient selects one of the options, and presses a handset buttonassociated with a selected option. By way of the above example, a firstkey 125 on the right bottom of the cellular telephone screen 105 isassociated with the READ 120 option, and a second key 130 on the leftbottom of the cellular telephone screen 105 is associated with the EXIT115 option.

Reference is now made to FIG. 1B, which is a simplified pictorialillustration of a cellular telephone screen 105 showing a list of sentmessages 150 according to an exemplary prior art method. Typically thelist of sent messages 150 displays a few messages, and occasionally alsoindicates whether the messages have been received by a service provider,for sending to recipients' handsets. The indications of whether themessages have been received by the service provider are depicted in theexample of FIG. 1B as √ symbols. The list of sent messages is oftencalled an outbox.

The sender, when viewing the list of sent messages 150, also hasoptional actions, typically comprising BACK 155 and READ 160, as well asscrolling through the list of sent messages 150. The scrolling isusually effected by one or more navigation controls (not shown). By wayof the above example, a first key 165 on the right bottom of thecellular telephone screen is associated with the READ 160 option, and asecond key 170 on the left bottom of the cellular telephone screen 105is associated with the BACK 155 option.

Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, itis to be understood that the invention is not necessarily limited in itsapplication to the details of construction and the arrangement of thecomponents and/or methods set forth in the following description and/orillustrated in the drawings and/or the Examples. The invention iscapable of other embodiments or of being practiced or carried out invarious ways.

Reference is now made to FIG. 2A, which is a simplified pictorialillustration of a cellular telephone screen 105 showing a notification110 that a message has been received according to a system constructedand operative in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

The notification 110 conveys the fact that a message has been received,and from which sender. The sender is identified by a phone number, or,if the phone number is included in the recipient's address book, by aname.

An optional flag 112 is depicted, drawing attention to the fact that thereceived message contains a pre-defined response. The flag 112optionally comprises one or more icons, which together optionally conveythat a pre-defined response is available; that a response is desired;that a response is required, and so on. By way of a non-limitingexample, the available/desired/required may be portrayed as thefollowing icons respectively

. The flag 112 produces increased awareness of a receiver to the factthat the message received comprises a pre-defined response. The flag 112conveys information that the message comprises a pre-defined response,and comprises a request for the receiving user to activate the response.

Some embodiments of the invention include emphasis on the flag 112, suchas, by way of a non-limiting example, displaying a circle around theflag 112, displaying a blinking flag 112, and so on.

The options before the recipient, similarly to the depiction of FIG. 1A,are to READ 120 the message, and to EXIT 115 the notification screen. Anadditional option is offered to the recipient, to ACK

205 the message, that is, to acknowledge receiving the message.

Some embodiments of the invention alert the recipient that the messagehas arrived. The alert is optionally different from an alert when amessage has arrived which does not require a response. The alertoptionally includes a ring-tone or other sound, a vibration, and othersuitable alerting methods. The alert for a message which requires aresponse and displays a flag is optionally different from the alert fora message which requires a response and does not display a flag. Theflag is a form of visual alert, which is optionally combined with, ornot combined with, other forms of alert such as the above mentionedring-tone.

As in the depiction of FIG. 1A, a first key on the right bottom of thecellular telephone screen 105 is associated with the READ 120 option,and a second key 130 on the left bottom of the cellular telephone screen105 is associated with the EXIT 115 option. In addition to the depictionof FIG. 1A, a third key 210 is associated with the ACK 205 option. Thethird key 210 is optionally a joystick, or navigation key.

It is to be appreciated that the receiving user is made aware of thefact that the message comprises a pre-defined response, and is providedwith a way to activate the response, before the message is opened. Thereceiving user sees who the message is sent from, and is provided withan indication of what to do in order to respond. In the example of FIG.2A, the “what to do” is to press the third key 210 in order to ACK 205.

In some embodiments of the invention there is a known convention betweenthe sender and the recipient. The flag provides a hint that a response,which is a part of the convention, is requested.

The recipient can choose one of the three options, by selecting one ofthe three keys: READ 120, which opens the message and allows therecipient to read the message, EXIT 115, which exits the messagenotification screen, and ACK 205, which activates sending an ACKNOWLEDGEresponse to the sender.

Adding the ACK 205 option therefore enables the recipient to convey someresponse to the sender, even before reading the message. The ability isperformed using a single key press. It is to be appreciated that the ACK205 option may be associated with any of the cell phone keys or otherinput options.

Some embodiments of the invention highlight the ACK 205 option, therebydrawing the recipient's attention to the fact that a response isrequested. The highlight is optionally performed by a different coloredbackground; by flashing the ACK 205 option; and other suitable methodsof emphasizing a specific display.

Non-limiting examples of highlighting the fact that a response optionexists include flashing the ACK 205 option, displaying the ACK 205option with a different background, underlining the ACK 205 option,drawing a circle around the ACK 205 option, adding text to thenotification 110, adding the optional flag 112, and displaying the ACK205 in a different color than other screen items.

Optionally, the enablement of the ACK 205 response capability ismaintained even when the recipient opens the message using the READ 120option, and advances to a different screen for reading the message.

Some embodiments of the invention use icons to indicate the options ofEXIT, ACK, and READ.

Some embodiments of the invention, implemented on touch screen cellulartelephones, do not need separate text or icons and separate keys, butrather have text or icons displayed as soft keys displayed on the touchscreen.

Some embodiments of the invention, implemented on Braille enableddevices have text or icons displayed in a suitable Braille interface.

Some exemplary embodiments of the invention comprise a cellulartelephone receiving an SMS (Short Message Service) message. Someexemplary embodiments of the invention comprise a cellular telephonereceiving an email message. Some exemplary embodiments of the inventioncomprise a computer or a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) receiving anemail message.

In some exemplary embodiments of the invention the notification 110,also termed a message identifier, comprises a subject field, such as, byway of a non-limiting example, is found in email messages.

In some exemplary embodiments of the invention the notification 110,also termed a message identifier, identifies the message sender. By wayof a non-limiting example, identifying the message sender of a cellulartelephone message is typically performed by displaying the phone numberof the message sender, or a nickname, stored in the receiver's cellulartelephone, corresponding to the phone number of the message sender. Byway of another non-limiting example, identifying the message sender ofan email message is typically performed by displaying the email addressof the message sender.

In some exemplary embodiments of the present invention identifying themessage sender is first performed in a succinct manner, such asdescribed above, that is the phone number of the message sender orsimilar manner. The receiving user is enabled to select the succinctidentification and expand the succinct identification revealing moreinformation about the message sender, including more communicationoptions with the sender.

In some exemplary embodiments of the invention the notification 110 isnot, as depicted, a visual notification, but rather a soundnotification. In other exemplary embodiments the notification 110includes both visual and auditory notification. The sound notificationoptionally comprises an indication that a response is requested for themessage. The sound notification can optionally comprise anidentification of the message sender, by suitable ring tone, or by voicereadout of the identification of the message sender.

It is to be appreciated that in some exemplary embodiments of theinvention the notification 110 includes an indication that a response isrequested, thereby making the message different from a message in whicha response is not specifically requested.

In some embodiments of the invention, such as the exemplary embodimentdepicted by FIG. 2A, a single action is required from a user, therecipient, in order to activate the sender-defined response, therebysending a response.

One feature of exemplary embodiments of the invention, which enablesrapid message response, is activating sending a response based on asingle action. One click, or one voice command, and the response issent.

Another feature of exemplary embodiments of the invention, which enablesrapid message response, is enabling the user to activate the singleaction input based on just receiving the message, before opening themessage. The viewer can respond based on just receiving the message, orbased on just viewing the notification 110 that a message has beenreceived.

The user receives the message, and is appraised according to someconvention that a response is requested. The user optionally selects theresponse, and the selection activates sending the response, with nofurther input requested of the user.

In some exemplary embodiments of the invention the ACK 205 option isreplaced by a REPLY option (not shown), which takes the user to a replyscreen without displaying the message to the user. As described above,the user may desire to respond rapidly, even before reading the message,and the user in the case performs the response using the cellulartelephone's REPLY option. The REPLY option may require more than one keystroke, but still saves reading the message, when the user does notrequire reading the message.

In some embodiments of the invention, the REPLY option is not a standardcellular telephone REPLY option, but a reply option comprisingadditional functionality. The additional functionality optionallyincludes performing a specific action if the recipient enters a suitablecode. The specific action optionally includes sending the response to athird party, that is, a party other than the sender. The third party isoptionally identified within the message.

In some embodiments of the invention the recipient views thenotification 110 that a message has been received, and is permitted toopen the message only after identifying that the recipient is anintended recipient. In some embodiments of the invention, theidentifying information is optionally sent to the sender foridentification. In other embodiments of the invention, the identifyinginformation is optionally sent together with the response to themessage.

In some embodiments of the invention the recipient is optionallyidentified by using a Personal Identification Code (PIN). In otherembodiments of the invention the recipient is optionally identified byusing biometric identification.

In some exemplary embodiments of the invention the recipient performs anauthentication that he or she is the recipient by entering a PersonalIdentification Code (PIN). In other exemplary embodiments of theinvention the recipient performs the authentication using a biometricidentification device, such as, by way of a non-limiting example, afingerprint scanner, or voice print recognition. Such devices arebecoming prevalent in laptop computers, and are therefore suitable foridentifiable rapid response to emails. In addition, telephones havemicrophones, and therefore can perform voice print recognition. It isexpected that during the life of a patent maturing from this applicationother messaging devices will include biometric identification, and willtherefore employ biometric identification for performing identifiableresponses.

In some exemplary embodiments of the invention, when the receivingapparatus is a touch screen enabled apparatus, the key press is replacedby an actuation of the touch screen. In other exemplary embodiments ofthe invention, when the receiving apparatus comprises a mouse, the keypress is replaced by mouse click. In yet other exemplary embodiments ofthe invention, when the receiving apparatus is voice-command enabled,the key press is replaced by a voice command.

It is to be appreciated that in some exemplary embodiments of theinvention, responding to a message is performed according to aconvention which is suitable for the receiving apparatus.

Some exemplary embodiments of the invention implement enabling theresponse by configuring software resident at the receiving apparatus toenable a user to indicate a response and to produce the response.

Some exemplary embodiments of the invention produce a single response.

Some exemplary embodiments of the invention are configured to produce asingle response from a choice of more than one response. Such anembodiment will be described below, with reference to FIG. 2B.

In some exemplary embodiments of the invention, sending the response isperformed by software such as, by way of a non-limiting example, ascript, or a widget configured in the receiving apparatus, based, atleast partly, on the sender-defined response included in the receivedmessage.

In some exemplary embodiments of the invention preparing a response isenabled by receiving software, such as, by way of a non-limiting examplea script or a widget sent with the message, and running the receivedsoftware at the receiving apparatus.

In some embodiments of the invention the response is optionally sentback to the sender. In other embodiments of the invention the responseis optionally sent to additional recipients. The additional recipientsare optionally identified in the message as recipients for the response.The response may optionally be sent only to the additional recipientsand not to the sender.

Reference is now made to FIG. 2B, which is a simplified pictorialillustration of a cellular telephone screen 105 showing a notification250 that a message has been received according to a system constructedand operative in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

The notification 250 conveys the fact that a message has been received,from which sender, and a message subject or a message title. The senderis identified by a phone number or by a name. Shrewd users of theembodiment of the invention which is depicted in FIG. 2B pack the gistof their message into the message subject, thereby assisting therecipient in making a response without reading the full message.

The optional flag 112 of FIG. 2A is also depicted, drawing attention tothe fact that the received message contains a pre-defined response.

By way of a non-limiting example, a full message may be: “Are you comingnow to the office party at Warner Park?” The sender, using an embodimentof the present invention, defines a message identifier as follows: “R Ucoming now?” knowing that the recipient will identify the sender asbeing from

the office, and therefore the recipient will understand the fullquestion from the summary, and be able to respond. The sender optionallydefines the responses by selecting from a list, for example comprising“YES” and “NO”, or icons. In some embodiments of the invention thesender defines the responses as text, for example comprising “YES”,“NO”, and “LATER”

, or “YES”, “NO”, and “ACK” ®

.

The options before the recipient are broader than those depicted in FIG.2A, being YES 255, NO 260, and ACK 205, corresponding to first key 125,second key 130, and third key 210 respectively.

The meaning of responding YES 255 and NO 260 is self-evident. The thirdoption of ACK 205 is provided for the recipient to respond that themessage was received, and acknowledged, but the answer is not a yes or ano. Such situations happen sometimes.

In the exemplary embodiment depicted by FIG. 2A, use of the first key125 and the second key 130 remain as in the prior art example depictedin FIG. 1A. In the exemplary embodiment depicted by FIG. 2B the firstkey 125 and the second key 130 are also used for implementing rapidresponse.

Some embodiments of the invention use one of the keys 260 205 120 as aMENU key (not shown). Pressing the MENU key opens a menu of options forresponse, and the recipient selects a response from the menu and sendsit. In some embodiments, the MENU key is optionally a navigation keycomprised in the cellular telephone.

A non-limiting list of example responses according to exemplaryembodiments of the invention is hereby included:

a please-call-me response, which, when the receiving user activates theresponse, calls the sender using the receiving user's device, associatedwith an icon of a telephone;

an ACK of receiving a message;

an ACK of reading a message;

a YES or a NO to a question included in the message;

a YES or a NO to a question included in a title of the message;

a YES or a NO to a question included in a message indication;

an authorization to perform a transaction;

a custom response produced by the sender of the message;

a custom response produced by the recipient of the message;

a recording of an MMS message initiated by the received message;

a recording of a voice mail message into the sender's voice mail box,initiated by the received message;

an answer to a third party, such as the additional recipient describedabove; and

an authorization to send a message to a third party.

By way of a non-limiting example, in case of a message indicating CALLME, four or more responses are optionally provided: YES, NO, LATER, andan immediate call made to the sender based on the sender's phone number.

In some embodiments of the invention making an immediate call made tothe sender based on the sender's phone number includes automaticallyperforming a series of actions comprising exiting a messagingapplication, storing or caching the sender's phone number in therecipient's handset, and activating a calling application on therecipient's handset to make the call.

The immediate call made to the sender is optionally an immediate call toa phone number defined in the pre-defined response, which is thesender's voice mail, thereby enabling the recipient to make a voicerecording of a response.

Reference is now made to FIG. 3, which is a flow diagram of a method fora receiver to respond to a message according to an exemplary embodimentof the invention.

When the receiver receives a message (305), the receiver displays amessage identifier and a possible response or responses (310). When theuser inputs an input to the receiver, the receiver accepts the input(315), and checks whether sending a response is indicated (320).

If sending a response is indicated, then the receiver sends the response(330) and thereby reaches an end (325) of the flow of the method.

If sending a response is not indicated, the receiver also reaches theend (325) of the flow of the method. In some embodiments of theinvention if sending a response is not indicated, the receiver performswhatever action the input indicated, and the method next returns (notshown) to accepting a next input (315).

In some embodiments of the invention, if the recipient did not indicatesending a response, that is, did not perform the activation, after apre-defined period of time the receiver performs the activation andsends a default response. The default response is optionally a responsewhich means no-response according to a suitable convention.

Some embodiments of the present invention enable a sender to trackresponses to messages.

Some embodiments of the present invention receive the responses, anddisplay the responses as they are received.

Reference is now made to FIG. 4A, which is a simplified pictorialillustration of a cellular telephone screen 105 showing a list of sentmessages 405 according to a system constructed and operative inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4A also depicts the optional actions BACK 155 and READ 160 and theassociated first key 165 and second key 170, similarly to the depictionof FIG. 1B.

Each entry in the list of sent messages 405 comprises a messageidentifier 410 associated with a response identifier 415 420 425 430.

The message identifier 410 preferably comprises information whichidentifies a sent message in the mind of the sender. By way of anon-limiting example, the message identifier 410 can be the first fewcharacters of the message; the phone number of the recipient of themessage; a header of the message; a title of the message; an e-mailaddress of the recipient of the message; and so on.

The response identifiers 415 420 425 430 comprise information whichidentifies a response in the mind of the sender. FIG. 4A depicts iconsas

response identifiers 415 420 425 430. The response identifiers 415 420and 430 depict a message which has been acknowledged, and the responseidentifier 425 depicts a message which has not been acknowledged. ThusFIG. 4A corresponds to responses made by the cellular telephone of FIG.2A, which was depicted as having an ACK 205 option.

In some embodiments of the invention the sender optionally selects amessage identifier, or a response identifier, in order to optionallyfurther expand the response. The further expansion enables the sender toread the response, if the response includes more information.

The response identifiers 415 420 425 430 optionally comprise a timestamp(not shown) indicating when the responses were made and/or received.

In some embodiments of the invention the recipient selects a responseand enters a screen displaying a full response, thereby being enabled toreceive more than the response identifiers 415 420 425 430.

In some embodiments of the invention the list of sent messages 405 isincluded in a specific box of response-requested messages, similar toother boxes such as an inbox, a draft box, an outbox, and so on.

In some embodiments of the invention the sender's device optionallyidentifies the incoming response as a response to a message rather thananother type of incoming message. The sender's device thereby enablesdisplay of the response message as a response to a sent message, eitherin addition to display as an incoming message or in place of display asan incoming message.

Reference is now made to FIG. 4B, which is a simplified pictorialillustration of a cellular telephone screen 105 showing a list of sentmessages 405 according to a system constructed and operative inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4B also depicts the optional actions BACK 155 and READ 160 and theassociated first key 165 and second key 170, similarly to the depictionof FIGS. 4A and 1B.

Each entry in the list of sent messages 405 comprises a messageidentifier 410 associated with a response identifier 455 460 465 470.

The message identifier 410 preferably comprises information whichidentifies a sent message in the mind of the sender, as stated abovewith reference to FIG. 4A. The response identifiers 455 460 465 470preferably comprise information which identifies a response in the mindof the sender, also as stated above with reference to FIG. 4A.

FIG. 4B depicts text as response identifiers 455 460 465 470. Theresponse identifier 455 corresponds to a message which has not receiveda response, the response identifier 460 corresponds to a message whichhas received a NO response, the response identifier 465 corresponds to amessage which has received a YES response, and the response identifier470 corresponds to a message which has received an ACK response. ThusFIG. 4B corresponds to responses made by the cellular telephone of FIG.2B, which was depicted as having three response options: NO 260; ACK205; and YES 255.

In some embodiments of the invention the response identifiers 455 460465 470 are not text, but icons. An example of response identifierscomprising icons is described below with reference to FIG. 5C.

It is to be appreciated that placing a message identifier and a responseidentifier together unifies functions presently performed by a separateoutbox and inbox, grouping the message identifier and a responseidentifier together into a “conversation”.

In some embodiments of the invention additional functional groups areoptionally produced by the sender. One such functional group is a groupof messages to which responses have not been received. Another suchfunctional group is a history of messages and responses grouped byrecipient.

In some embodiments of the invention the sender automatically producesan alert indicating a message to which a response has not been receivedwithin a specified time.

In some embodiments of the invention the sender automatically resends amessage to which a response has not been received within a specifiedtime.

In some embodiments of the invention a list is maintained of messageswhich have not been responded to, or which not all recipients haveresponded to.

In some embodiments of the invention a list is maintained of recipientsto response-requested messages and a response status associated witheach of the recipients and each of the messages sent to the recipient.

Reference is now made to FIG. 5A, which is a simplified pictorialillustration of a cellular telephone screen 105 showing a list ofresponses 505 to a sent message 510 according to a system constructedand operative in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5A also depicts the optional actions BACK 155 and READ 160 and theassociated first key 165 and second key 170, similarly to the depictionof FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 1B.

Each of the list of responses 505 comprises a recipient identifier 515520 525 and a response identifier 545 550 555 which indicates whether arecipient responded to the message.

The recipient identifiers 515 520 525 preferably comprise informationwhich identifies a recipient in the mind of the sender. In someembodiments of the invention the recipient identifiers 515 520 525comprise phone numbers of the recipients, and/or names of therecipients. In other embodiments of the invention the recipientidentifiers 515 520 525 are email addresses of the recipients.

In some embodiments of the invention the indication of whether therecipient responded to the message is an icon. By way of a non-limitingexample, the icon can be a check mark √ for a recipient which hasresponded, and an X mark for a recipient which has not responded.

In other embodiments of the invention, as depicted in FIG. 5A, theindication of whether the recipient responded to the message alsocomprises an indication of the response. By way of a non-limitingexample, the response identifiers 545 550 and 555 comprise a responseidentifier 545 indicating a NO response, a response identifier 550indicating a YES response, and a response identifier 555 indicating noresponse has been received.

In some embodiments of the invention, the response identifier 555, whichindicates that no response has been received, also indicates how muchtime has passed without response since the message was sent. Theindicating how much time has passed is a visual indication according tosome suitable convention of time passing. Some non-limiting examplesare: indicating time as two hands in a circle defining a clock face;indicating time, for example hours and minutes, as a digital count;coloring the response identifier 555 green corresponding to a short timewithout response, gradually turning to red for a long time withoutresponse.

Thus FIG. 5A corresponds to responses made by the cellular telephone ofFIG. 2B, which was depicted as having three response options: NO 260;ACK 205; and YES 255. It is to be appreciated that since no response isalso possible, the cellular telephone of FIG. 5A is enabled to displayfour types of responses.

Reference is now made to FIG. 5B, which is a simplified pictorialillustration of a cellular telephone screen 105 showing a list ofresponses 505 to a sent message 510 according to a system constructedand operative in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5B depicts a similar exemplary embodiment of the invention as FIG.5A, except that the indications comprise text indications 560 565 and570. The indications 560 565 and 570 comprise, respectively, anindication of a NO (260) response, a YES (255) response, and no responsehaving been received.

Thus FIG. 5B also corresponds to responses made by the cellulartelephone of FIG. 2B, which was depicted as having three responseoptions: NO 260; ACK 205; and YES 255. It is to be appreciated thatsince no response is also possible, the cellular telephone of FIG. 5B isenabled to display four types of responses.

Reference is now made to FIG. 5C, which is a simplified pictorialillustration of a cellular telephone screen 105 showing a summary ofresponses 575 to a sent message 510 according to a system constructedand operative in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5C also depicts the optional actions BACK 155 and READ 160 and theassociated first key 165 and second key 170, similarly to the depictionof FIGS. 4A, 4B, 5A, 5B, and 1B.

The cellular telephone screen 105 also depicts the summary of responses575, comprising possible responses 580 581 582 583

the sent message 510, and counts 590 591 592 593 of how many responsesof each of the possible responses 580 581 582 583 were received. By wayof the example depicted in FIG. 5C, there were 3 (590) YES

(580) responses, 2 (591) NO

(581) responses, 1 (592) ACK

(582) response, and 6 (593) responses have not yet been received

(583) to the sent message.

Thus FIG. 5C also corresponds to responses made by the cellulartelephone of FIG. 2B, which was depicted as having three responseoptions: NO 260; ACK 205; and YES 255.

It is to be appreciated that the transmitter optionally sends more thanone message requiring a response, therefore some embodiments of theinvention optionally display a table (not shown), of how many responseswere received for each one of the messages requiring a response.

Other embodiments of the invention optionally display a table (notshown) of how many responses were received of each type of response foreach one of the messages requiring a response

Still other embodiments of the invention optionally display a table (notshown) of a response identifier for each message/recipient combination.The response identifier comprises a recipient identifier and anidentifier of the type of response.

It is to be appreciated that a present day cellular telephone screen istypically small, and examples depicting cellular telephone screens aretypically constrained in the number of lines per screen and charactersper screen. Exemplary embodiments with emails as the messages aretypically displayed on larger screens, therefore the transmitter caneasily display larger lists of responses, and tables of responses.Cellular telephone screens are presently growing in size and resolution,and it is expected that during the life of a patent maturing from thisapplication cellular telephone screens will display larger lists ofresponses, and tables of responses than were depicted in FIGS. 5A-5C.

Reference is now made to FIG. 5D, which is a simplified pictorialillustration of a system for tracking responses to sent messagesconstructed and operative in accordance with an exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention;

The system of FIG. 5D comprises a computer 595 with storage 596,connected to an SMS Center (SMSC) 598 via the Internet 597. The SMSC 598transmits messages via a cellular antenna 599 to a recipient handset600.

The computer 595 comprises a centralized messaging system, composingmessages as described below with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, andtracking the messages as described above with reference to FIGS. 4A, 4B,5A, 5B, and 5C.

The messaging service provider can be any suitable messaging serviceprovider, such as, by way of a non-limiting example, a cellulartelephone provider providing an SMS service, an Internet ServiceProvider providing email and instant messaging connections, and so on.

The connection to the messaging service provider can be any suitableconnection, such as, by way of a non-limiting example, a networkconnection, a wireless network connection, a cellular networkconnection, and so on.

The computer 595 can be located in any suitable location, such as, byway of a non-limiting example, a person's home, a commercial locationsending out messages and tracking them, a call center, and a messagingservice provider's site.

The system of FIG. 5D is useful for centralized sending of messages andtracking of responses, and for sending messages and tracking ofresponses by computer, as described below with reference to ExemplaryUses of the System.

The above example embodiment included a computer sending SMS messagescontaining pre-defined responses. A computer can also be the recipientof a message, such as an SMS message, containing a pre-defined response.The message can be sent to a phone number which has automated answering.In some embodiments of the present invention, a computer receivesmessages pre-defined responses, detects the existence of the pre-definedresponses, and responds to the messages. The response of the computercan be by activating the pre-defined response, be responding with amessages which contains a pre-defined response produced by the computer,and by any other suitable means, such as text, synthesized voice, and soon. In some embodiments of the invention, a computer responding to amessage indicates that the response is produced by the computer and notby a human. The indication is by sending a suitable graphical icon, asuitable text message, and other such responses as are described herein.

Reference is now made to FIG. 6, which is a flow diagram of a method fora sender to track responses to sent messages according to an exemplaryembodiment of the invention.

The method of FIG. 6 includes receiving a response to a sent message(650), and displaying a recipient identifier which identifies arecipient of the message together with a response identifier whichidentifies the recipient's response (655).

As described above with reference to FIGS. 4A, 4B, 5A, 5B, and 5C, theresponse identifier is displayed according to a suitable convention,such as icons, text, and so on.

The method of FIG. 6 is also described in the above discussion of FIGS.5A, 5B, and 5C.

In some embodiments of the invention, an ability to perform a rapidresponse to a received message is comprised in a client at the receiver,without the received message comprising an indication that a response isdesired. The client is configured to enable a rapid response to any kindof message, including a message for which the sender did not define aresponse.

In some embodiments of the invention, the ability to perform a rapidresponse to a received message is comprised in a client at the receiver,and comprises an ability to receive an indication, a hint, or adirective comprised in the received message, that a response is desired.A description of producing a message comprising an indication that aresponse is desired is provided below.

In some embodiments of the invention, the ability to perform a rapidresponse to a received message is comprised in executable code sent withthe message to a client at the receiver. When the recipient activatesthe response, the recipient actually causes the receiver to execute theexecutable code, thereby causing the sending of the response.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that running executable codeis already enabled in many cellular telephones. By way of a non-limitingexample, many cellular telephones have Java Virtual Machines, and runJava code.

Reference is now made to FIG. 7, which is a flow diagram of a method forproducing a message enabled for rapid response according to an exemplaryembodiment of the invention.

A person desiring to transmit a message for which a rapid response isdesired produces a message (705), and adds an indication to the messagethat a response is desired. (710).

The message is optionally any type of message, such as SMS messages tocellular telephones, email messages, and other types as described above.

The person optionally adds the indication from a choice of one or moreindications. In some embodiments of the invention the choice isoptionally available as a choice from a menu of indications. In otherembodiments of the invention the choice is made by adding text using aspecific convention, such as delimited text and/or text in a mark-uplanguage, as will be described below.

In some embodiments of the present invention the predefined recipientresponse is included within a standard SMS message. The predefinedrecipient response is included within one or more of the SMS fieldsaccording to the current SMS standard.

In some embodiments of the present invention the SMS protocol isenhanced, including changes which support transport of the predefinedrecipient response within an enhanced protocol SMS message and detectionof the predefined recipient response within the enhanced protocol SMSmessage.

In some embodiments of the invention the SMS protocol is enhanced byadding a field to carry the predefined response or responses. In someembodiments of the invention the SMS protocol is enhanced by adding aflag to indicate that the SMS message contains the predefined responseor responses.

In some embodiments of the invention the message enabled for rapidresponse is produced by enhanced native messaging software, such as, byway of example, enhanced native SMS client software. The enhanced nativeSMS client software is provided with an ability to produce pre-definedresponses, to include the responses in SMS messages, and to detectmessages enabled for rapid response when received. The enhanced nativeSMS client software processes a received message, and optionally causesa text part of the message to be displayed, a suitableresponse-requested indication to be displayed, such as the flag 112 ofFIG. 2A, while hiding the actual bits of data which encoded theresponse-requested indication. The enhanced native SMS client softwarealso optionally associates the response options, such as the ACK

205 of FIG. 2A, with suitable actions and with suitable keys, such asthe third key 210 of FIG. 2A.

The enhanced native SMS client software is optionally downloaded tousers, such as cellular telephone handsets, to replace previous nativeSMS client software and/or to patch previous native SMS client software.

In some embodiments of the invention the message enabled for rapidresponse is first produced as a standard message, such as, for example,a standard SMS message. The standard message is sent to an additionalapplication, which produces a pre-defined response and inserts thepre-defined response into the message, thereby producing a messageenabled for rapid response. The same additional application, or anotheradditional application, detect messages enabled for rapid response whensuch messages are received, processes the received messages, and enablesthe rapid response features.

The additional application software is optionally downloaded to users,such as cellular telephone handsets.

In some embodiments of the invention some functionality for enablingsending and receiving rapid response enabled messages is provided byenhanced native messaging software, and some functionality by anadditional application. By way of a non-limiting example, detection ofmessages enabled for rapid response, upon receipt, is made by theenhanced native messaging software, and production of the pre-definedresponse is made by additional software. Such a configuration enablescorrect handling of rapid response enabled messages, while enabling anupdating of the additional application to update pre-defined responses,graphical indications for messages with pre-defined response, and so on.

Reference is now made to FIG. 8, which is a simplified pictorialillustration of a cellular telephone screen including a message 805composed with a choice of sender-defined responses comprising delimitedtext, according to a system constructed and operative in accordance withan exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 also depicts optional actions INSERT 820 and CANCEL 825 andrespectively associated first key 165 and second key 170. The optionalaction keys are associated with the editing actions of text insertionand canceling the editing session, as is known in the art.

The message 805, by way of the non-limiting example described above withreference to FIG. 2B, is “Are you coming now to the office party atWarner Park?” The sender, using an embodiment of the present invention,composes the message, and adds a message identifier 810 “R U comingnow?” an optional flag

812, and a sender-defined response 815 with the options “Yes/No/Later”.

The message identifier 810, the optional flag

812, and the sender-defined response 815, are added according to apre-determined convention, such as, by way of a non-limiting exampleusing a delimiter “#” to delimit between the message identifier 810, theoptional flag

812, and the sender-defined response 815, and using a delimiter “/” todelimit between response options.

In some embodiments of the invention the optional flag

812 and the sender-defined response 815 are added by selection from adrop-down menu (not shown) of pre-defined optional flags and pre-definedsender-defined responses.

Reference is now made to FIG. 9, which is a simplified pictorialillustration of a recipient's cellular telephone screen 105 depictingthe message of FIG. 8 according to a system constructed and operative inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

A sender identifier 905 is displayed on the cellular telephone screen105, along with the message identifier 810 (FIG. 8). A client program onthe recipient's cellular telephone has parsed the received message, andcaused the cellular telephone to display optional responses 910 915 920corresponding to the sender-defined response 815. The optional responsesare “YES” 910, corresponding to the second key 130, “NO” 915,corresponding to the third key 210, and “LATER”, corresponding to thefirst key 125.

An optional flag

912 is also displayed, corresponding to the optional flag

812 comprised in the message in the system of FIG. 8.

In some embodiments of the invention the indication that a response isdesired is optionally comprised in a response-desired field within themessage. In other embodiments of the invention the indication that aresponse is desired is optionally comprised in a content field withinthe message, optionally together with other contents.

Expanding upon the embedding of the predefined recipient response withinone or more of the SMS fields according to the current SMS standard,mentioned with reference to FIG. 7, it is noted that a standard SMSmessage according to the present invention may contain a standard textfield, which is understood by a recipient, and also parsed by the abovementioned enhanced native SMS client software. By way of a non-limitingexample, the SMS text includes: “R U COMING NOW? Reply Yes or No”. Arecipient having non-enhanced SMS client software can optionally read,understand, and respond to the above SMS by sending an SMS response of“Yes” or “No”. A recipient having enhanced native SMS client softwareoptionally reads the same message, but also optionally has the responses“Yes” and “No” appear as the optional responses 910 915. The enhancednative SMS client software optionally parses the SMS text, and causesthe optional responses 910 915 to appear. When the user presses the keys130 210 corresponding to the optional responses 910 915, the responses“Yes” or “No” are inserted into a response, and/or the responses “Yes”or “No” are sent.

In some embodiments of the invention when the user presses the keys 130210 corresponding to the optional responses 910 915, the enhanced nativeSMS client software optionally replaces the text associated with thekeys 130 210 with something else, such as the icons described above withreference to FIG. 2A, and/or replacing the text with different text. Theenhanced native SMS client software optionally parses the SMS text andoptionally uses at least some of the SMS text as a directive or scriptfor execution.

In some embodiments of the invention the indication that a response isdesired optionally comprises text. In some embodiments of the invention,the text indication that a response is desired is comprised in a messageheader or title, for a receiver to display to a user.

In other embodiments of the invention, the text indication that aresponse is desired is configured to be parsed and detected by a clientprogram at a receiver.

In yet other embodiments of the invention, the text indication that aresponse is desired is configured to be parsed and detected by a clientprogram at a receiver. The indication is optionally part of the message,with suitable delimiters to delimit the indication from the message. Byway of a non-limiting example, text indication of three possibleresponses, YES, NO, and ACK, is sent as #Y/N/A#.

In some embodiments of the invention the indication that a response isdesired optionally comprises text conforming to a mark-up language. Byway of a non-limiting example, the mark-up language is XML.

In some embodiments of the invention, the indication that a response isdesired is comprised in the message destination. The messagedestination, being a phone number in case of cellular telephones, istypically parsed by cellular telephone service providers, therefore theservice providers should typically agree to support this form ofindication.

In some embodiments of the invention the indication that a response isdesired optionally comprises code, executable at the receiver.

In some embodiments of the invention the code optionally comprises atext messaging program.

In some embodiments of the invention the code is compiled by a composerof the message, in other embodiments of the invention the code iscompiled by the receiver. In still other embodiments of the inventionthe code comprises a script to be optionally run by the receiver.

In some embodiments of the invention the code is configured forsingle-user-action execution, such as, by way of example, a single keyactivation, or a single voice command, and so on.

It is to be appreciated that in some embodiments of the inventionsending a message comprising an indication that a response is desiredfrom a transmitter to a receiver through intermediate stationsoptionally does not affect the indication.

It is to be appreciated that in other embodiments of the inventionsending a message comprising an indication that a response is desiredfrom a sender to a receiver through intermediate stations optionallychanges the indication. Intermediate stations optionally performtranslation of messages from a format composed by a sender to a formatsuitable for reception by a receiver. The translation of messagesincludes translation of response-desired indication from one format toanother format.

Reference is now made to FIG. 10, which is a simplified pictorialillustration of a system for two-way messaging between an originatinguser and a receiving user via two different messaging operatorsconstructed and operative in accordance with an exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention.

An originating user's handset 605 sends a message 606 comprising aresponse-desired indication in a first format, to a first cellularantenna 608 belonging to the originating user's messaging operator. Thefirst cellular antenna 608 receives the message 606, and transmits themessage 606 through suitable cellular network elements 613 to an SMSC607 belonging to the originating user's messaging operator.

The SMSC 607 belonging to the originating user's messaging operatortranslates the response-desired indication in the first format comprisedin the message 606 to a response-desired indication in a second format,producing a second message 609, comprising the response-desiredindication in the second format, the second format being suitable for areceiving user's messaging operator. The SMSC 607 belonging to theoriginating user's messaging operator sends the second message 609 to anSMSC 610 belonging to the receiving user's messaging operator, using aninter-operator network 613. The SMSC 610 belonging to the receivinguser's messaging operator sends the second message 609 through suitablecellular network elements 614 to a second cellular antenna 611 belongingto the receiving user's messaging operator.

The second cellular antenna 611 receives the second message 609, andtransmits the second message 609 to the receiving user's handset 612.

When the receiving user's handset responds to the message in the secondformat 609, the reverse path serves to provide the response to theoriginating user's handset 605. The translation from a response-desiredindication in the second format (not shown), to a response-desiredindication in the first format optionally occurs in the SMSC 607belonging to the originating user's messaging operator.

It is to be appreciated that in some embodiments of the invention thetranslation occurs in the SMSC 607, in some embodiments of the inventionthe translation occurs in the SMSC 610, and in some embodiments of theinvention the translation occurs in a component of the inter-operatornetwork 613. In some embodiments of the invention the translation occursin add-on software, the software operating in one of the above mentionedSMSCs 607, 610 and/or the inter-operator network 613.

Exemplary Uses of the System

Non-limiting examples of uses of exemplary embodiments of the inventionwill now be described.

The enablement of sending short messages readable in receiving devicesand respondable without opening a full message opens up possibilitiessuch as BUY EGGS, COLLECT KID, LUNCH TODAY, SELL ACME STOCK, and so on.Some embodiments of the present invention use flags, or icons, to conveythe above messages to the user receiving the messages.

Embodiments of the invention lend themselves particularly well toautomatic message production by centralized servers, for example bankservers sending messages requiring authenticated responses. A similarsystem is described with reference to FIG. 5D. By way of a non-limitingexample, authentication optionally uses either PIN numbers or voicerecordings. The voice recordings are optionally sent either as voiceresponses over the cellular telephone, or as MMS messages comprisingrecorded voice.

A manager sending a message to his or her employees may use embodimentsof the invention to obtain and manage acknowledgements, optionallyauthenticated acknowledgements, that the message has been received bythe employees. That is to say, while prior art systems allow forreplies, the present embodiments ensure that the current status of themessage is known to the sender via a flag, even without the recipienthaving replied in conventional form of text content. Tracking responsesin such a manner is exemplified in FIG. 5B, which depicts a list ofindications 560 565 570 of responses next to recipient identifiers 515520 525. Some embodiments of the invention list indications of responsesin forms of icons, or flags.

A dentist or doctor automatically sending appointment reminders topatients may use embodiments of the invention to obtain and manageacknowledgements that the appointment reminders have been received bythe patients.

The following scenario is enabled by the ability to trigger sending amessage to a third party by responding to a received message: a firstperson receives a message from a second that document X is ready, andtriggers sending document X to a third person. The sender sends preparedresponses to the first person, including as one choice of response an“APPROVE” response. When the first person selects the “APPROVE” choice,the response is sent back to the sender, and when the response arrivesat the sender, code is activated at the sender to send document X fromthe sender to the third person.

An additional scenario includes making a prepared transaction such aspaying bills by sending a response to a received bill, the responseauthorizing the payment by a third party, such as a bank or Paypal. Acellular seller sends a “one-click” data segment to a cellular buyer.The data segment contains the buyer's relevant payment data, by way of anon-limiting example, credit card data, and the buyer's data, forexample credit card merchant data, and a transaction identification. Thedata segment is sent as one choice of response corresponding to“APPROVE”. When the buyer selects the “APPROVE” choice, the response isactivated, sending to the credit card company data comprising an orderto transfer funds from the buyer's account to the seller's account, inpayment for the identified transaction.

Managing responses in lists associated with messages provides amanagement tool within an organization—enabling sending instructions andtracking their reception and performance.

A person sending a distress message may use embodiments of the inventionto obtain an acknowledgement that the distress message has beenreceived. By way of a non-limiting example, a person who messages formedical assistance, or a stranded motorist who messages for roadsideassistance, may preset a response to go with the message.

Expanding upon the above mentioned enhanced native SMS client software,an example application is now described which uses an embodiment of thepresent invention.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 11A, 11B, and 11C, which are simplifiedpictorial illustrations of a recipient's cellular telephone screendepicting a gradual development of a message according to a systemconstructed and operative in accordance with an exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIGS. 11A, 11B, and 11C depict a message produced according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 11A depicts a recipient's cellular telephone screen 105 similar tothe recipient's cellular telephone screen depicted in FIG. 9 above.Reference numbers which have identical numbers refer to same features asin FIG. 9 above.

The message of FIGS. 11A, 11B, 11C displays gradually. By way of anon-limiting example, the message first displays a first multiple choice930 such as a question or a voting choice, e.g. “1ST CANDIDATE” 930,displaying three choices: “FRED” 932, “WILMA” 934, and “PASS” 936. Thethree choices 932 934 936 correspond to the three keys 130 210 125.

FIG. 11B depicts what happens when the recipient presses one of thethree keys 130 210 125: the enhanced native SMS client software displaysan additional, second, multiple choice 940, and an additional set ofchoices “BILL” 942, “GEORGE” 944, and “PASS” 946. The three choices 942944 946 correspond to the three keys 130 210 125.

The second multiple choice 940 question which is displayed optionallydepends on a result of the choice of the recipient in the first multiplechoice 930. By way of a non-limiting example, if the recipient chose“FRED” 932 in the first multiple choice, the second question may be“WHY?”, with optional answers “BRAWN”, “BRAIN”, and “PASS”; and if therecipient chose “WILMA” 932 in the first multiple choice, the secondquestion may again be “WHY?”, with optional answers “WIT”, “BEAUTY”, and“PASS”.

FIG. 11C depicts what happens when the recipient presses the key 130which corresponds to the choice “FRED” 932. The enhanced native SMSclient software displays an alternate second multiple choice 950, and anadditional set of choices “BRAWN” 952, “BRAIN” 954, and “RESTART” 956.

The above described depictions in FIGS. 11A, 11B, 11C teach using theenhanced native SMS client software to display questions one at a time,and display additional questions included in the same SMS message afteran answer has been provided. The additional questions optionally dependon the answers to prior questions.

At an end of a series of questions, the recipient's choices are sent asa response, to the sender and/or to some other pre-defined address.

It is expected that during the life of a patent maturing from thisapplication many relevant messaging technologies will be developed andthe scope of the terms message and response is intended to include allsuch new technologies a priori.

The terms “comprises”, “comprising”, “includes”, “including”, “having”and their conjugates mean “including but not limited to”. This termencompasses the terms “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of”.

As used herein, the singular form “a”, “an” and “the” include pluralreferences unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

It is appreciated that certain features of the invention, which are, forclarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also beprovided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, variousfeatures of the invention, which are, for brevity, described in thecontext of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or inany suitable subcombination or as suitable in any other describedembodiment of the invention. Certain features described in the contextof various embodiments are not to be considered essential features ofthose embodiments, unless the embodiment is inoperative without thoseelements.

Although the invention has been described in conjunction with specificembodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modificationsand variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art.Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives,modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and broad scopeof the appended claims.

All publications, patents and patent applications mentioned in thisspecification are herein incorporated in their entirety by referenceinto the specification, to the same extent as if each individualpublication, patent or patent application was specifically andindividually indicated to be incorporated herein by reference. Inaddition, citation or identification of any reference in thisapplication shall not be construed as an admission that such referenceis available as prior art to the present invention. To the extent thatsection headings are used, they should not be construed as necessarilylimiting.

1-74. (canceled)
 75. A method for providing status-based responses todigital messages, comprising: constructing a digital message, thedigital message including at least one predetermined activatablerecipient response; sending the constructed digital message to arecipient device; determining whether each of the at least oneactivatable recipient response of the sent digital message has beenactivated; determining a status of a response to the sent digitalmessage from the recipient device, wherein the status of the response isdetermined based on whether any of the at least one activatablerecipient response has been activated; and displaying the determinedstatus.
 76. The method of claim 75, wherein each status is at least oneof: that no response has been received, and that a response has beenreceived.
 77. The method of claim 75, further comprising: determining,based on the determined status, whether a response has been receivedfrom the recipient device within a predetermined period of time.
 78. Themethod of claim 77, further comprising: producing an alert, when it isdetermined that the response has not been received from the recipientdevice within the predetermined period of time.
 79. The method of claim77, further comprising: resending the digital message, when it isdetermined that the response has not been received from the recipientdevice within the predetermined period of time.
 80. The method of claim77, further comprising: determining an amount of time that has passedsince the digital message was sent, when it is determined that theresponse has not been received from the recipient device within thepredetermined period of time; and displaying the determined amount oftime.
 81. The method of claim 75, further comprising: sending theconstructed digital message to at least one other recipient device;determining, for each other recipient device, whether each activatablerecipient response of the sent digital message has been activated;determining, for each other recipient device, a status of a response tothe sent digital message from the other recipient device, wherein thestatus of the response is determined based on whether any of the atleast one activatable recipient response has been activated at the otherrecipient device; and displaying the determined status of each otherrecipient device.
 82. The method of claim 81, further comprising:maintaining, based on the determined statuses, a list of recipients,wherein the list indicates the status of the response from the recipientdevice of each recipient.
 83. The method of claim 75, furthercomprising: tracking the sent digital message, wherein the trackingincludes receiving the response to the digital message, whereindetermining whether each activatable recipient response has beenactivated is based on the received response.
 84. A non-transitorycomputer readable medium having stored thereon instructions for causinga processing circuitry to perform a process for providing status-basedresponses to digital messages, the process comprising: constructing adigital message, the digital message including at least onepredetermined activatable recipient response; sending the constructeddigital message to a recipient device; determining whether each of theat least one activatable recipient response of the sent digital messagehas been activated; determining a status of a response to the sentdigital message from the recipient device, wherein the status of theresponse is determined based on whether any of the at least oneactivatable recipient response has been activated; and displaying thedetermined status.
 85. A user terminal for providing status-basedresponses to digital messages, comprising: a display; a processingcircuitry; and a memory, the memory containing instructions that, whenexecuted by the processing circuitry, configure the user terminal to:construct a digital message, the digital message including at least onepredetermined activatable recipient response; send the constructeddigital message to a recipient device; determine whether each of the atleast one activatable recipient response of the sent digital message hasbeen activated; determine a status of a response to the sent digitalmessage from the recipient device, wherein the status of the response isdetermined based on whether any of the at least one activatablerecipient response has been activated; and display, via the display, thedetermined status.
 86. The user terminal of claim 85, wherein eachstatus is at least one of: that no response has been received, and thata response has been received.
 87. The user terminal of claim 86, whereinthe user terminal is further configured to: determine, based on thedetermined status, whether a response has been received from therecipient device within a predetermined period of time.
 88. The userterminal of claim 87, wherein the user terminal is further configuredto: produce an alert, when it is determined that the response has notbeen received from the recipient device within the predetermined periodof time.
 89. The user terminal of claim 87, wherein the user terminal isfurther configured to: resend the digital message, when it is determinedthat the response has not been received from the recipient device withinthe predetermined period of time.
 90. The user terminal of claim 87,wherein the user terminal is further configured to: determine an amountof time that has passed since the digital message was sent, when it isdetermined that the response has not been received from the recipientdevice within the predetermined period of time; and display, via thedisplay, the determined amount of time.
 91. The user terminal of claim85, wherein the user terminal is further configured to: send theconstructed digital message to at least one other recipient device;determine, for each other recipient device, whether each activatablerecipient response of the sent digital message has been activated;determine, for each other recipient device, a status of a response tothe sent digital message from the other recipient device, wherein thestatus of the response is determined based on whether any of the atleast one activatable recipient response has been activated at the otherrecipient device; and display, via the display, the determined status ofeach other recipient device.
 92. The user terminal of claim 91, whereinthe user terminal is further configured to: maintain, based on thedetermined statuses, a list of recipients, wherein the list indicatesthe status of the response from the recipient device of each recipient.93. The user terminal of claim 85, wherein the user terminal is furtherconfigured to: track the sent digital message, wherein the trackingincludes receiving the response to the digital message, whereindetermining whether each activatable recipient response has beenactivated is based on the received response.
 94. The method of claim 75,wherein the at least one predetermined activatable recipient responseincludes at least a reception flag and a non-reception flag, wherein thestatus is determined further based on a selection of the reception flagor the non-reception flag, wherein the displayed status includes an iconindicating the selected flag.
 95. The user terminal of claim 85, whereinthe at least one predetermined activatable recipient response includesat least a reception flag and a non-reception flag, wherein the statusis determined further based on a selection of the reception flag or thenon-reception flag, wherein the displayed status includes an iconindicating the selected flag.